lundaren



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. LUNDGREN.

MACHINE FOR FILLING MATCH BOXES. No. 448,445. Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

I i I i o d I WItwe-ss es;

- (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' F. LUNDGREN.

MACHINE FOR FILLING MATCH BOXES. No. 448,445. Patented Mar. 17,-1891.

11m: B16001"; LJDIBSQS 5 M gswmbw HEM 64 F. LUIIDGREII. MACHINE FOR FILLING MATCH BOXES.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 17, 1891" Imrenio 1"; n vvw m /w g K. m N 6 Nrrn rates arnnrr triers,

MACHIN E FOR FlLLlNG MATCH-"BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,445, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed April 17, 1890. Serial No. 848,425. (No model) To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANS LUNDGREN, a subject of th King of Sweden, residing at Stockholm, Sweden, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Filling Match- Boxes and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine designed more particularly for filling boxes with matches; but it may as well be employed for filling boxes with splints or the like having forms similar to matches and for similar uses. In its operation the compartment or matrix of the machine having the same dimensions as the matchbox is filled with matches, and the matches thus measured are transferred by a plunger to a position in front of another plunger, which drives them into a match-box so placed as to receive them. In the present machine the boxes after being filled are antomatically introduced into tubular cases of a well-known kind.

My inventiomwill be fully described hereinafter, and its novel features carefully defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure l is a plan of the machine with portions of the upper mechanisms removed, and Figs. 1 and l are detached plan views of the portions of the mechanisms wanting in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation of the machine, the plane of the section being indicated by line 5% 2 in Fig. 1; and Fig; 2 is a front view, detached, of a portion of the mechanism in front of the sectional plane of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a transverse section'on line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. a is a transverse section on a scale about double that of the other figures. The plane of this section is indicated by linet a in Fig. 1.

I will first describe the general construction of the machine and its operation, and afterward describe the subordinate features.

A is the main frame or bed of the machine, and G the main driving-shaft, on which are mounted the operating-cams.

E is the match-magazine.

. B is the plunger, which drives the measured quantity of matches from the matrix D, connected with the magazine, and D is the trough or guide in which said plunger recip rocates. The matches are placed in the reservoir or holder E, (see Fig. 3,) which has a reciprocating or vibrating bottom F, which assists in forcing the matches into the matrix D, situated at the point where the open side of the trough D joins the outlet-spout of the match-reservoir E. At the proper time a cam b on shaft G forces upward a sliding blade K, which cuts off the matches in the matrix from those in the reservoir. The matrix D now holds just the proper quantity of matches to fill a box, and these are forced out by the plunger B into a chamber over or above the end of a vertically-reciprocating plunger L. This latter plunger plays be tween suitable guides (1,150 which are secured at their lower ends two spring-blades cl, the free ends of which embrace the said plunger and press elastically upon it in its movements. When the plunger L is down and the plunger B forces the charge of matches into the chamber over its upper end, the matches will be situated between the spring-blades d.

The match-boxes d are like trays, and they are placed by the attendant invert-ed in an inclined chute or trough M, down which they slide by gravity, one by one, in front of a transverse reciprocating plunger N, which plays through the lower horizontal portion of the chute M. This plunger N forces the inverted box cl forward to a position over the plunger L and under a hinged lid (P, which then descends and presses the box down slightly upon the upper free extremities of the guiding spring-blades d. The plunger L now ascends and forces the matches up into the box, they being guided thereto by said blades (1. In its ascent the plunger L forcibly pushes the box off the blades cl. \Vhen in its lowest position, the upper end of the plunger L is on the same level with the bottom of the matrix D, and when in its elevated position its upper end is on a level with the free extremities of the blades cl and with the lower face of the reciprocating plunger 0, which plays in a plane parallel with the plunger B, but is situated in the same horizontal plane as the plunger N and somewhat in,

front of the plunger B. Now the fillled box will be displaced laterally by an empty box forced out by the plunger N, and this moveplunger 0.

nient will place the filled box directly in the path of the plunger (J and within a tubular guide formed of two lateral spring-fingers h, a bottom finger h, and a top finger 7L2, as seen in Fig. 1 and in the detached side view, Fig. -2. These four blades or fingers form a guide to deliver the filled box into the tube or casing therefor, as will be described. The tubes d are fed by the attendant into an upright hopper or chute O, which delivers them one by one into a chamber in front of a transverse reciprocating plunger P, which pushes the bottom tube out in front of a reciprocating plunger R, which is aligned with the This plunger R has a verylimited movement, and its function is to push the tube toward the right, 1 and 2, far enough to cause its open end to embrace the free ends of the spring-fingers 72., h, and 71 The plunger 0 now advances and pushes the filled box into the tube, the said spring-fingers guiding it into same properly. lVhen the box shall have been completely housed in the tube, the raised portion it (see Fig. 2) of the plunger 0 strikes the end of the tube and said plunger pushes the box and inclosing tube back off the spring-fingers, the plunger R withdrawing or yielding to allow of this movement. The filled box and its inclosing tube will now be in line (see Fig. l) with the delivery-trough 7a, and the next tube pushed into place by the plunger P will displace it laterally, pushing it into said trough. Thus one filled and incased box displaces that previously filled and incased and the work proceeds contin uously. It will be understood that the attendant supplies the holder E with matches, the spout or way M with open boxes d, and the hopper O with tubes or casings cl. The remainder of the work is automatic.

1 will now describe the mechanical details of the machine, which admit of variation. The main shaft G may be driven from any source of power and in any way most convenient. The bottom F of the match-holder E (see Fig. 3) is supported at its elevated rear end by a strip a' of flexible material from the upright H, and it is vibrated through the medium of a link a, coupled to a crank a, on a short shaft at the back of the machine. On this shaft is secured a sheave (0 which is driven from the shaft G by a belt a The free end F of the bottom F slides over a surface which is flush with the bottom of the matrix D, and said end is somewhat thick, so as to take against and push the matches into the matrix. As here shown,the bottom F will continue its vibrations during the whole operation,but it maybe arranged to vibrate only while the matrix is being filled. The cover a of the discharging-spout of the holder E is hinged to the front a of said holder, so that it may be raised, if desired. leather or the like, may be placed in the holder E over the matches to keep them down in place. The side of the holder E (seen at the right in Fig. 1) is made removable, and

A strip d of in Fig. 2 this side is supposed to be removed, so as to expose the interior of the holder. The holder is filled from the side.

I is the cover of the matrix. This cover (see Figs. 1., 2, and 3) has a horizontal portion, which forms the cover proper, and an upright portion, which closes the upper part of the outlet of the holder E. This cover I is fixed to an arm Z), hinged to some part of the frame, so that the cover may be raised. The cover is held down by a spring 0, coupled to the arm 17 by a rod 0, and the extent to which said cover may descend is limited by a setscrew 1). The plunger B is reciprocated through the medium of a grooved barrel-cam g on the shat G, and the barrel of this cam also serves as a pulley to receive the belt C63. The plunger 0 is coupled by a link 9773 to an arm m on a rock-shaft m, on which shaft is a telescoping arm m m, coupled to the strap of an eccentric m on the shaft G. This eccentric imparts the necessary reciprocating movement to said plunger 0. The plunger L is driven upward by a cam fon the shaft G and descends by its own weight. The plunger R is advanced by a face-cam S on the shaft G, (seen in Fig. 2,) and is retracted orpushed back by the box when the plunger 0 advances. The hinged lid or cover-plate d (see Figs. 1, 2, and 4) is on the extremity of a long arm (1 hinged to the frame, and it is depressed normally by a spring n, which passes under a stud n, as seen in Fig. 4. This lid is limited in its downward movement by a vertically-reciprocating lifter (1 which is actuated by a cam f on the shaft G, and which serves to lift said lid and hold 'it in its elevated position until the inverted box is pushed under it by theplunger T.

The necessary reciprocating movements of the plungers N and P are effected simultaneously through the medium of the following mechanism: On the end of shaft G isa crank g the pin "of which engages a slot in an arm g on a rock-shaft g at the back of the machine. This mechanism imparts the proper rocking movement to said shaft. On this shaft is another arm g which is coupled by means of a cross-bar g at its upper end to the two plungers N and P.

Fig. 2 illustratesa part of the mechanism in front of the plane in which the section Fig. 2 is taken. The upper finger or springblade h2 of the four that form the guide through which the plunger 0 forces the filled box is secured to a hinged arm k whereby said blade may be raised in the same manner as the lid (1 In order to prevent the tube from being lifted up at the moment that the plungers C and R are acting, I prefer to arrange over it a lid .9 on the end of a hinging arm 8 similar to the arm 71 and arm 61 This lid is seen in Fig. l detached and in place in Fig. 2.

In the operation of my machine the matches will descend by gravity into the outlet-spout of the holder E, and the vibrating bottom is mainly intended to insure the proper filling of the matrix D. The blade K will be thin at its edge, but not sharp, and gravity may be relied on to insure its descent. Ido not, however, limit myself in this respect, as weights and springs are well-known equivalents for retracting parts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a machine for filling boxes with matches and the like, the combination, with the reservoir E for the matches, and the matrix D, open at its side to said reservoir, of the reciprocating sloping bottom F of the reservoir, having its free lower end arranged adjacent to the open side of the matrix and on a level with the bottom of the same, whereby the end of said bottom serves as a ram to pack the matches into the matrix, substantially as set forth.

2.1m a machinefor fillingboxeswith matches and the like, the combination of the reservoir E, the matrix or chamber D, .into which the matches pass from the reservoir, and the reciprocatingcut-oif slide K, adapted to separate the reservoir from the matrix, substantially as set forth.

3. In a maehineforfilling boxes with matches and the like, the combination, with the reservoir E, of the matrix or chamber D,open to said reservoir and provided with an adjustable lid I, substantially as set forth.

4. Inamachine forfillingboxes with matches and the like, the combination of the matrix, the reciprocating plunger B, adapted to remove the matches from said matrix, and spring-guides cl, which carry the inverted box, and the plunger L, which plays between the said springs and carries the matches into said box, substantially as set forth.

5. In amachineforfillingboxeswith matches or the like, the combination, with the reciprocating box-displacing plunger 0 and the guide formed of spring-blades through which it plays, of the reciprocating plunger R, aligned with and arranged in front of the plunger 0, the tube magazine or chute O,and the reciprocating plunger P, adapted to push the inclosing tube from the said chute into the path of the plunger R, substantially as set forth,

6. In a machine forfillingboxes with matches or the like, the combination of the upright spring-blades d, the hinged lid (1 and its depressing-spring, said lid being arranged above and over the upper ends of the spring-blades cl',the reciprocating lifter (1 arranged under the lid d and adapted to raise the latter, and the reciprocating plunger N, adapted to push the inverted box under the lid d and in a position to engage the free upper extremities of the blades cl, substantially as set. forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FR ANS LUNDGREN.

Witnesses:

NERE A. ELFWING, I ERNST SVANQVIST. 

